Cost-savings measures and changes to mail delivery are in effect at the United States Postal Service (USPS), with more modifications being phased in July 1.
The changes are part of the 10-year Delivering for America plan originally developed in 2021, as well as measures handed down by the Trump Administration’s Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Revisions affect First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Marketing Mail, Package Services (including Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail), USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express. Despite changes, the USPS said all mail will benefit from more reliable service.
The Delivering for America strategy was developed by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, appointed in 2020 by President Donald Trump, the first non-postal service employee to hold the agency’s top spot. DeJoy stepped down after working with DOGE and signing off on a budget that slashes 10,000 workers and reduces spending by billions of dollars.
In a letter to Congress last month, DeJoy outlined the changes and said DOGE’s cost-cutting measures would bring about a “historic level of transformational change.”
Trump has been critical of the USPS and has mentioned merging it into the Commerce Department, putting it under his authority.
Changes to Mail Delivery
USPS estimates that 75% of Americans won’t see a change in First-Class Mail delivery, while 14% will see faster delivery times and 11% will face longer delivery times. Overall, the day range will still be within the current 1-5 day standard, according to the USPS.
- ◾For First-Class Mail, the current service standard day range of 1-5 days is staying the same, while the day ranges for end-to-end Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services are being shortened.
- ◾Most competitive shipping products will retain the same service standard, some packages will have a faster standard, and some will have a slightly slower standard. The current service standard day range for USPS Ground Advantage of 2-5 days is staying the same.
Estimated Savings
The Postal Service projects at least $36 billion in savings over 10 years from transportation, mail processing, and real estate cost reductions. Meanwhile, postal workers and supporters across the country have stepped up protests opposing the service reductions.
Despite financial losses and declining mail volume, the USPS is a vital service for many people across the country, especially in rural areas. The $78 billion-a-year agency employs about 640,000 workers.
“The only thing worse for the Postal Service than DeJoy’s ‘Delivering for America’ plan is turning the service over to Elon Musk and DOGE so they can undermine it, privatize it, and then profit off Americans’ loss,” said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
“This capitulation will have catastrophic consequences for all Americans — especially those in rural and hard to reach areas — who rely on the Postal Service every day to deliver mail, medications, ballots, and more. Reliable mail delivery can’t just be reserved for MAGA supporters and Tesla owners,” Connolly added.
Postage Stamps, Designs, and Collectors
Regardless of budgets, mail delivery, politics, and other details, stamp collectors are drawn to the stories behind specific stamps and the eras they represent. Every year, the USPS showcases an annual lineup of stamp designs, with 55 new releases announced for rollout in 2025.
Postage stamps often reflect historical events, cultural heritage, and significant figures and are designed to reflect the American experience, significant milestones, achievements and natural wonders. There is also an option for customers to design their own stamps using an approved third-party vendor.
Betty White Forever Stamps were rolled out March 27, with Forever Stamps honoring the children’s book Goodnight Moon will be released on May 2, and designs from the Nickelodeon TV show SpongeBob SquarePants being released later this year.
Postal Service art director Derry Noyes designed the Goodnight Moon stamps. Greg Breeding, also an art director for the USPS, designed the four SpongeBob SquarePants stamps using artwork provided by Nickelodeon, according to the Postal Service.
For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. The stories behind the stamps and more are available at stampsforever.com.
About the USPS
The USPS is an independent federal agency, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. While an independent agency, Congress maintains close control.
Since July 2022, the price to mail a first class letter went up every six months. As of April 5, a Forever Stamp is 73 cents. Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1‑ounce price. The first Forever Stamp was 41 cents in 2007.
Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
